EPRN CONDUCTED A CONSUMER RESEARCH ON AFLATOXINS IN RWANDA
Recently EPRN partnered with the Sight and Life to conduct consumer research on aflatoxins in Rwanda. Billions around the world especially in sub-Saharan African countries may be exposed to aflatoxin through their food, contamination that can cause stunting in children, reduce their physical and intellectual development and has been linked to liver cancers in adults. Since its discovery in the early 1960’s, the fungi that infect many crops like maize, groundnuts, wheat amongst others with its deadly toxins have not been solved by scientists and more work needs to be done to keep aflatoxin out of the food supply chain.
Understanding consumer needs and their perception of varying innovations will help to better shape and tailor trainings and support options.
Sight and Life Rwanda in partnership with the Rwanda FDA aims to establish the status of aflatoxin prevalence along the maize value chain and put in place innovative solutions such as drying and scaled up testing of moisture and aflatoxins to help mitigate the effects of aflatoxins.
Key tasks are as follows :
• Work closely with Sight and Life technical team to train enumerators
• Administer questionnaire using CAPI methodology - with 45 - 50 farmers
• Conduct Focus Group Discussions with groups of 4 farmer groups each with 60 farmers